Life-saving device.



' Patented may 22, I900. w. A. nunmms.

LIFE S'AVING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct 16, 1899.

(No Model.)

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V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM'A. DUNNING, OF IIENNESSEY, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY;

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent l\ To, 650,310, dated May22, 1900. 7

Application filed October 16, 1899. Serial No. 733,813. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. DUNNING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hennessey, in the county of Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory,have invented a new and useful Life-Saving Device, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in life-saving devices.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple andcomparatively inexpensive device adapted to form a cushion to provide asafe landing for persons who in case offire are. compelled to jump fromthe upper stories of buildings; and a further object of the invention isto provide a device of this character which, while affording anefficient cushion, will eifectually prevent any recoil,

so that a person will not be bounced upward by the device.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a device of this characterwhich will be portable and adapted to form a portion of firemensoutfits.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life-saving deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of the same.

Like numerals of reference designate correspondin g parts in bothfigures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate reversely-arranged upper and lower casings adapted totelescope into each other and having coiled springs 3 of any desirednumber and strength housed within them and interposed between them toform a cushioning device. The lower section of the casing is composed ofsides and abottom and is open at the top to receive the upper section,which is open at the bottom, being composed of sides and a top, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The upper and lowersections of the casing, which may be constructed of any desired size,are preferably rectangular in horizontal section, and the upper section,which fits within the lower one, is provided at the outer faces of itssides with Vertical. ratchets 4, preferably formed by recessing thewalls of the casing; but any other form of teeth may be employed. Theratchets have their teeth shouldered at their upper sides and beveled attheir lower sides, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, and they are adapted to be engaged by resilient pawls 5,mounted on the walls of the lower or outer section of the casing andsecured to the inner faces of the same. The pawls, which are vertical,consist of resilient shanks secured at their lower ends to the lowersection of the casing and provided at their upper ends with heads orengaging portions 6 tointerlock with the teeth ofthe ratchets. The headsor engaging por tions 6 of the pawls are beveled at their up per sidesand shouldered at their lower sides,

whereby they are adapted to permit the ratchet to pass them when theupper section of the casing moves downward by reason of a person jumpingupon the device and are capable of interlocking with the ratchets andengaging the teeth thereof to prevent any'upward or rebound movement ofthe uppersection of the casing, thereby effectually taking up all therecoil. The walls of the lower section of the casing are provided attheir inner faces with vertical grooves 7, arranged to receive the pawlsto permit the same to be disengaged from the ratchet, and the said pawlsare provided with stems 8, extending through perforations of the lowersection of the casing and having suitable heads or grips at their outerends, whereby the pawls may be readily drawn outward to disengage themfrom the ratchets.

In order to enable the upper section of the casing to move freely andfrictionlessly in the lower section of the casing, it is provided withantifriction wheels or rollers 9, preferably located at the corners ofthe upper section of the casing, near the bottom thereof, and adapted toengage the inner faces of the walls of the lower section of the casing.

The upper section of the casing has coiled springs 10 mounted upon itand arranged in rows, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of theaccompanying drawings, and supporting a platform 11, upon'which ismounted a cushion 12. The platform 11 is rectangular, and the cushion 12preferably consists of a central pneumatic portion 13 and marginalportions 14,

with a suitable'filling.

is i 656,316

which may be either pneumatic or padded The' invention has the followingadvanon its exterior with verticalrack s or ratch'ets and resilientpawls mounted in grooves of the lower section of the casing andinterposed betages: The device, which 1s simple and comparativelyinexpensive'in construction, is portable. It is adapted to beconveniently -carried by a fire company, and it is capable of forming ayielding cushion for preventing persons who are compelled to jump. fromthe upper stories of buildings from being injured. Thecushioning-springs are arranged above and below the top oftheuppersectionandform a cushion of great elasticity, andwhile the cushionis adapted to yield to prevent aperson from injuring himselfjt isautomatically locked against any recoil or rebound movement. Themovement of the upper sectween the same and the other section andadapted to engage the ratchetsor racks, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising the lower section of thecasing composed of a bottom and sides provided at their inner faces withvertical grooves, the upper section of the casing telescoping into thelower section and composed "of a top and sides provided on theirexteriors with vertical ratchets located opposite the said grooves,cushioning springs interposed between the bottom of the lower sectionand the top of the upper section, and resilient'pawls housed within the'ing the lower-section of the'casing composedof sides, and a'bottom, andopen at the top; the'uppe'r section of the casing telescoping into thelower sectionand composed of sides 6 and atop, cushioning-springs housedwithin the casingand interposed between the top of theupper-section andthe bottom of the lower section, and a cushion supported by the uppersection of the casing, substantially as described. i

" '2. A device of the class described co1npris-' ing the lower sectionof the casing composed of sides, and a bottom, and open at the top, .theupper section of the casing telescoping int'o'the lower section andcomposed of sides: and atop, said upper section being provided? groovesof the lower section and engagingthe ratchetsof the uppersection andhaving handies or stems extending through the lower section and adaptedto be operated from the exterior thereof, substantiallyas described.

4. A device of the class described comprising the lower section of thecasing composed of a bottom and sides having interior vertical grooves,the top'section of thecasin g com-' posed of a top and sides providedwith vertical ratchets located oppositethe said grooves,

antifric'tion-wheels mounted on the upper section of thecasing andengaging the inner faces of the wal'ls'of the lower section, resilientpawls housed within the grooves of "the lower section and engaging theratchets of the pawls from the exterior of the casing, substantially asdescribed.

my own l have hereto affixed mysignaturein thelpresence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM A. DUNNlIN-G.

Witnessesr i 7' M. EANES, GEO. W. BEAR."

In testimony that-I claim the foregoing as the upper section, and meansfor operating

